Kosovo's first Paralympics athlete to make history. KOSOVO PRESIDENTS OFFICE

Kosovo participated in its first Paralympics opening ceremony on Wednesday evening in Paris, as athlete Grevist Bytyqi prepared to make history by representing his country in the 1500 metres running event. 

“History is being written,” the Kosovo Paralympics Committee announced on Facebook ahead of the 2024 Paralympics. On 20 August, President Vjosa Osmani presented the Kosovo flag to Bytyqi, 33, who will be the country’s sole competitor in Paris.

“A special honour to hand over today the flag of the Republic of Kosovo to the para-athlete Grevist Bytyqi, who will carry the colors of Kosovo,” Osmani wrote on X.

Grevist Bytyqi prepared to make history by representing Kosovo. KOSOVO PRESIDENTS OFFICE
Grevist Bytyqi prepared to make history by representing Kosovo. KOSOVO PRESIDENTS OFFICE

The Paris Paralympics, already underway and ending on 8 September, features 4,400 athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments competing in 22 sports.

Kosovo has participated in three Summer Olympic Games since 2016, earning a total of five medals, all in judo by female athletes.

Judoka Majlinda Kelmendi won Kosovo’s first Olympic gold medal in 2016. Two more gold medals were secured in 2020 by Nora Gjakova and Distria Krasniqi.